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^^f^tiers   Church 
"Ministers 


and   its 


Chartiers  Church 


ITS  MINISTERS. 


An  Historical  Address; 


REV.  FRANCIS  J.  COLLIER, 


DELIVERED    AT    THE 


M'Millan  Centennial  Celebration 

HELD   AT 

CHARTIERS    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH, 
Near  Cannonsburg,  Washington  County,  Pa. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

Mclaughlin  brothers,  book  and  job  printers. 

112    AND   114   SOUTH   THIRD   STREET. 
1875- 


Cliatti^t$  €^nti\\\  at|tl  ite  jfinbtqs. 


If  we  would  have  a  true  idea  of  the  state  of 
things  that  existed  when  the  congregation  of  Char- 
tiers  was  organized,  we  must  go  back,  as  pilgrims, 
over  the  track  of  time,  until  we  have  passed  at  least 
one  hundred  mile-stones,  marking  one  hundred  years. 
We  must  lose  sight  of  the  magnificent  improvements, 
the  wonderful  inventions  and  discoveries,  the 
numberless  comforts,  conveniences,  and  luxuries  that 
distinguish  the  present  age.  We  must  be  oblivious 
to  our  national  greatness,  the  progress  we  have 
made,  the  glory  we  have  attained,  for  then  we  were 
not  a  free,  independent  and  united  people.  We 
must  not  be  conscious  of  the  fact  that  thousands  of 
thriving  towns,  hundreds  of  populous,  wealthy  and 
beautiful  cities,  and  many  large  and  powerful  States 
have  suddenly  sprung  up,  in  our  vast  domain,  as  if 
at  the  wave  of  a  magician's  wand.  We  must  for- 
get the  comfortable  and  commodious  dwellings  in 
which  the  farmers  of  the  present  generation  live  in 
the  enjoyment  of  peace  and  plenty ;  the  thousands 
of  cleared  acres,  without  a  stump,  with  scarcely  a 
stone  to  break  their  smooth  surface  ;  the  well-graded 
roads,  the  solid  turnpikes,  the  substantial  bridges, 
the  railroad,  carrying  to  and  fro  the  products  of  the 


farm,  the  factory  and  the  mine ;  the  telegraph, 
flashing  intelligence  from  place  to  place  with  the 
rapidity  of  lightning;  all  these  must  be  forgotten, 
for  they  belong  not  to  the  period  in  which  we  are 
particularly  interested  to-day. 

We  look  out  upon  an  almost  unbroken  wilder- 
ness. We  see  here  and  there  a  Ioq^  cabin,  and  find 
a  few  scattered  villages.  The  inhabitants,  who  are 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  have  mostly  come  from 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia.  They 
are  men  strong  in  body,  in  mind,  and  in  their  religious 
convictions ;  men  who  love  the  Bible,  the  Sabbath, 
and  the  house  of  God ;  men  who  detest  every  form 
of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  tyranny  ;  men  who  are  not 
unmindful  of  the  cruel  persecutions  their  fathers 
endured  for  conscience  sake,  in  the  land  of  their 
nativity ;  men  who  are  determined,  at  an  early  day, 
to  renounce  their  allegiance  to  the  British  throne, 
and  set  up  for  themselves  a  free  Republic  in  which 
there  shall  be  no  established  Church. 

We  watch  the  hardy  pioneers  performing 
herculean  tasks,  subduing  the  forests,  and  inclosing 
and  cultivating  the  land  which  they  have  cleared. 
We  see  the  merciless  Indians,  armed  with  bow  and 
arrow,  knife  and  tomahawk,  roaming  through  the 
woods  and  prowling  around  the  settlements,  ready 
to  murder  the  white  man  and  his  family,  set  fire  to 
his  cabin,  and  drive  away  his  cattle.  We  observe 
many  bridle-paths  throughout  the  country,  and  men 
engaged  in  transporting  merchandise,  not  in  wagons, 
but  chiefly  on  the  backs  of  horses  and  mules.  We 
look  in  vain  for  a  school  house.  The  youth  receive 
some  instruction,  but  it  is  imparted  by  the  pioneers, 


in  their  own  cabins,  after  the  hard  clay's  work  is  clone. 
When  Sabbath  comes,  we  see  the  early  settlers 
resting  from  their  labors,  and  going  to  the  appointed 
place  of  worship,  perhaps  ten  or  twelve  miles  away ; 
the  women  and  litde  children  riding  on  horseback, 
the  men  walking  at  their  side,  armed  with  trusty 
rifles  for  protection  against  their  savage  foes.  The 
place  of  worship  may  be  a  log  house,  rudely  built ; 
but,  more  likely,  it  is  in  the  forest,  in  the  open  air^ 
and  the  minister  occupies  a  platform,  and  the  people 
are  seated  on  logs,  or  on  the  ground,  and  armed 
sentinels  keep  watch  at  a  distance.  The  men  are 
mostly  clothed  in^deer  skins  and  "  home-spun."  And 
the  women  are  plainly  clad ;  they  are  not  troubled 
with  fancy  over-skirts,  covered  all  over  with  furbe- 
lows ;  their  dresses  are  made  for  comfort  without 
much  regard  to  style ;  and  they  wear  bonnets,  real 
bonnets,  and  not  little  hats,  composed  of  a  few 
feathers  and  flowers  and  ribbons  and  bits  of  lace  ! 
All  join  in  praise  and  prayer,  they  hear  the  Scriptures 
read,  they  listen  to  good  gospel  sermons,  earnest, 
lengthy,  and  profound,  and  then  go  home  to  meditate 
upon  the  truth.  In  such  perilous  times,  under  such 
peculiar  circumstances,  among  such  a  simple-minded, 
hard-working.  God-fearing  people,  the  foundations 
of  the  first  chtirches  in  this  region  were  laid.  With 
the  Rev.  D.  X.  Junkin,  D.  D.,  poet  of  the  Jefferson 
Class  of  1 83 1,  we  would  say: 

"All  honor  to  the  men  whose  stalwart  arms, 
'Mid  toil,  privation,  and  war's  dread  alarms, 
Whilst  struggling  fur  a  home  and  daily  bread, 
In  faith  and  prayer  the  deep  foundations  laid 
On  which  our  glorious  institutions  rest : 
O  !  be  their  names  revered — their  memory  bless'd! 
And  while  we  give  their  deeds  to  hallowed  fame. 
High  on  the  scroll  write  John  McMillan's  name  I" 


6 

It  Is  not  known  in  what  year  the  congregation 
of  Chartiers  was  organized.  It  is  probable  there 
was  no  regular  organization  until  Mr.  McMillan 
came.  On  his  first  visit  to  this  region,  in  1775,  he 
preached  at  the  house  of  John  McDowell,  on  Char- 
tiers  Creek,  on  the  fourth  Sabbath  of  August.  This 
is  the  earliest  record  of  service  at  Chartiers,  but 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  settlers  had  previously 
met  many  times  for  divine  worship.  In  an  obituary 
notice  of  the  Rev.  Reid  Bracken,  published  in  the 
Presbyterian  Advocate,  in  August,  1849,  it  is  stated 
that  he  was  born  in  September,  1778,  that  his  father 
removed  from  York  county  to  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  when  he  was  an  infant  six  weeks  old, 
and  that  he  was  the  first  child  baptized  by  Mr. 
McMillan  in  Chartiers  church.  We  know  that  Mr. 
McMillan  preached  and  baptized  at  Chartiers  three 
years  before  the  Bracken  family  came,  for  he  put  it 
on  record.  We  may  reconcile  the  newspaper  state- 
ment with  historical  facts  by  supposing  that  a  house 
of  worship  was  built  by  Chartiers  congregation  soon 
after  Mr.  McMillan  was  settled  as  pastor,  and  that 
Reid  Bracken  was  the  first  infant  baptized  in  the  new 
church.  The  word  "church,"  used  in  the  obituary, 
refers,  as  we  understand  it,  to  the  sacred  edifice  and 
not  to  the  congfresfation. 

o        o 

A  charter  was  procured  by  the  congregation  of 
Chartiers,  in  February,  1798.  More  than  thirty  of 
the  male  members  signed  the  petition  for  the 
charter.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  signers : 
John  McMillan,  John  McDowell,  Craig  Ritchie, 
Moses  Coe,  Robert  Hill,  William  Cochran,  George 
Craighead,   William   Kerr,   Robert   Hughes,   James 


Foster,  James  Allison,  John  Johnson,  William  Welch, 
James  Officer,  Hans  McClean,  Abraham  DeHaven, 
Robert  Welch,  Robert  Bowland,  William  Hayes, 
John  McCahey,  William  Hartapee,  Nicholas  Smith, 
Daniel  Kirkpatrick,  James  Wishart,  John  Donnell, 
William  Gault,  Alexander  Frazer,  John  Lindsay, 
Thomas  Briceland,  Samuel  Logan,  Thomas  Bracken, 
John  McClain,  James  Gaston,  John  Crawford,  George 
McCook. 

The  first  trustees  were  Robert  Hill,  William 
Kerr,  James  McCreedy,  William  Hays,  John  Mercer, 
James  Morrison,  George  Craighead,  James  Bradford, 
and  John  Cotton.  After  the  church  was  incorpo- 
rated, Josiah  Haines  conveyed  to  the  trustees,  in  June, 
1798,  two  and  a  fourth  acres  of  land.  A  year  after, 
Samuel  Gilpin,  of  Cecil  county,  Maryland,  conveyed 
seven  acres  and  three-fourths  to  the  board  of  trus- 
tees. The  church  thus  became  possessed  of  ten 
acres  of  land.  A  part  of  this  tract  the  trustees 
afterwards  exchanged  for  other  land  more  con- 
veniently  located.  These  facts,  concerning  the 
charter  and  the  land,  we  learn  from  Dr.  Alfred 
Creigh's  History  of  Washington  county. 


Rev.  JOHN  M'MILLAN,  D.  D. 

The  first  pastor  of  Chartiers  was  the  Rev.  John 
McMillan.  His  parents  emigrated  from  county 
Antrim,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  in  the  year  1742, 
and  settled  at  Fagg's  Manor,  in  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania.  There  he  was  born  on  the  nth  of 
November,  1752.     In  his  infancy,  he  was  dedicated 


to  the  Lord,  by  his  pious  parents,  and  their  earnest 
prayer  was  that  God  would  spare  his  Hfe  and  make 
him  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  They  had  faith  to 
believe  that  their  hope  would  be  realized,  and  being- 
sound  Calvinists,  they  proceeded  to  make  diligent 
use  of  appropriate  means.  They  first  gave  their  son 
an  English  education  ;  and,  when  he  was  prepared, 
they  sent  him  to  the  Rev.  John  Blair's  classical 
school  at  Fagg's  Manor ;  and,  subsequently,  to  the 
Rev.  Robert  Smith's  classical  school  at  Pequea, 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  entered 
Princeton  college  in  1770,  and,  in  two  years, 
graduated  at  the  age  of  twenty. 

It  so  happened,  in  the  orderings  of  Providence, 
that  while  he  was  a  student  at  Pequea  and  Princeton, 
remarkable  revivals  of  religion  took  place  by  which 
he  was  greatly  affected.  He  was  under  deep  con- 
victions of  sin  before  he  left  the  academy,  and  was 
thoroughly  converted  to  God  soon  after  he  entered 
college.  Thus  were  the  prayers  of  his  parents 
answered,  and  their  hopes  in  part  realized. 

Having  finished  his  course  at  Princeton,  he  went 
back  to  Pequea  to  study  theology  under  the  direction 
of  Rev.  Robert  Smith,  D.  D.  At  this  period,  as  we 
learn  from  his  famous  manuscript,  he  was  in  an 
uncertain  and  perplexed  state  of  mind  about  under- 
taking the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  determined  to 
leave  the  matter  wholly  with  God.  If  the  way  was 
opened,  he  would  go  on  ;  if  it  was  shut,  he  would  be 
satisfied.  When  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  his 
age,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  This  occurred  on  the 
26th  of  October,  1774,  at  East  Notdngham,  Chester 


9 

county,  Pennsylvania.  The  winter  following,  he 
preached  in  the  vacant  congregations  of  New  Castle 
and  Donegal  Presbyteries. 

Young  as  he  was,  and  difficult  and  hazardous  as 
was  the  undertaking,  he  set  out,  in  the  summer  of 
1775,  under  instructions  from  his  presbytery,  to  visit 
the  settlements  in  Virginia  and  Western  Pennsylva- 
nia. His  course  was  in  part  determined  by  a  desire 
to  see  some  of  his  friends  and  kindred  who  had 
settled  in  this  region  of  country.  Starting  from 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  he  made  his  way 
westward  and  southward  through  the  Cumber- 
land and  Shenandoah  valleys.  In  July,  he  crossed 
the  Allegheny  mountains  near  Staunton,  Virginia, 
and,  it  is  probable,  came  down  the  valley  of  the 
Monongahela.  As  he  traveled  from  place  to  place, 
he  preached  the  gospel.  On  the  fourth  Sabbath  of 
August,  he  preached  at  John  McDowell's,  on  Char- 
tiers  Creek,  and  on  the  Tuesday  following  at  Pigeon 
Creek.  He  then  journeyed  eastward,  and,  in  the 
month  of  October,  reached  his  father's  house  at 
Faee's  Manor.  But  he  did  not  remain  long  at  home. 
He  returned  to  this  region  in  the  winter,  by  the  same 
circuitous  route  through  Staunton,  Virginia,  and 
preached  at  Pigeon  Creek  and  Chartiers  from  Janu- 
ary until  nearly  the  end  of  March,  1776,  when  he 
received  a  call  from  these  churches  to  become  their 
pastor.  He  was  not  as  yet  ordained,  but  preached 
as  a  licentiate.  He  went  east,  and  at  a  meeting  of 
the  presbytery  of  New  Castle,  held  in  April, 
accepted  the  call.  He  was  thereupon  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  and,  on  the  19th  of  June, 
was  ordained  at  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania. 


10 

He  did  not  think  himself  fully  prepared  for  his 
work  without  a  wife.  Accordingly,  before  going  to 
his  field,  he  married,  on  the  6th  of  August,  1776, 
Catharine  Brown,  a  pious  young  woman  whose  father, 
William  Brown,  was  a  member  of  "  The  Forks  of 
Brandywine  Presbyterian  Church,"  or,  as  it  is  now 
more  commonly  called,  "Brandywine  Manor  Church," 
in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  It  was  the  period 
of  the  revolution,  and  the  country  was  in  such  a 
disturbed  condition  that  he  judged  it  imprudent  to 
take  his  wife  to  the  frontier.  He  went  himself  and 
took  charge  of  the  churches,  preached,  ordained 
elders,  and  administered  the  sacraments,  but,  at  times, 
returned  to  the  east. 

The  parsonage  of  Chartiers  now  comes  into 
view.  The  pastor  is  in  the  26th  year  of  his  age. 
Three  years  have  elapsed  since  he  first  visited  this 
reg-ion,  and  more  than  two  since  he  was  called.  The 
war  is  raging ;  the  Indians  are  troublesome  ;  but 
nevertheless  he  brings  his  wife,  Catharine,  a  brave- 
hearted  woman,  across  the  mountains,  and  establishes 
his  home  among  his  people  in  the  wilderness.  They 
arrive  in  November,  1778.  "When  I  came  to  this 
country,"  says  Dr.  McMillan,  "  the  cabin  in  which  I 
was  to  live  was  raised,  but  there  was  no  roof  on  it, 
nor  chimney,  nor  floor  in  it.  The  people,  however, 
were  very  kind,  assisted  me  in  preparing  my  house, 
and  on  the  15th  of  December,  I  removed  into  it. 
But  we  had  neither  bedstead,  nor  table,  nor  chair, 
nor  stool,  nor  pail,  nor  bucket.  All  these  things  we 
had  to  leave  behind  us  ;  there  beino-  no  was^on  road 
at  that  time  over  the  mountains,  we  could  bring' 
nothing  with    us    but   what   was    carried    on    pack- 


11 

horses.  We  placed  two  boxes  on  each  other,  which 
served  us  for  a  table,  and  two  kegs  served  us  for 
seats  ;  and  having  committed  ourselves  to  God  in 
family  worship,  we  spread  a  bed  on  the  floor,  and 
slept  soundly  until  morning.  The  next  day,  a 
neighbor  coming  to  my  assistance,  we  made  a  table 
and  a  stool,  and  in  a  little  while  had  everything 
comfortable  about  us.  Sometimes,  indeed,  we  had 
no  bread  for  weeks  together ;  but  we  had  plenty  of 
pumpkins  and  potatoes,  and  all  the  necessaries  of 
life,  and  as  for  the  luxuries,  we  were  not  much 
concerned  about  them.  We  enjoyed  health,  the 
gospel  and  its  ordinances,  and  pious  friends.  We 
were  in  the  place  where  we  believed  God  would  have 
us  to  be  ;  and  we  did  not  doubt  He  would  provide 
everything  necessary ;  and,  glory  to  His  name !  we 
were  not  disappointed.  My  wife  and  I  lived  com- 
fortably together  for  more  than  43  years  ;  and  on  the 
24th  of  November,  18 19,  she  departed  triumphandy 
to  take  possession  of  her  house  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens." 

As  the  first  pastor  of  Chartiers  was  distinguished 
as  an  educator,  our  attention  is  drawn  to  the  famous 
Log  Cabin  School.  The  importance  of  establishing 
a  school  with  the  special  design  of  educating  pious 
young  men  for  the  ministry  was  impressed  upon  the 
mind  of  Mr.  McMillan,  when  he  was  about  to  setde 
in  the  west,  by  his  friend  and  instructor.  Rev.  Robert 
Smith,  D.  D.  of  Pequea.  We  have  reason  to  believe 
that  he  established  a  classical  and  theological  school 
within  two  years  after  he  brought  his  family  to  Char- 
tiers,  or  about  the  year  1780.  It  is  claimed  that  this 
was  the  first  Latin  school  started  west  of  the  moun- 


12 

tains.  The  students  were  instructed  in  his  house 
until  the  celebrated  log  cabin  was  built  near  his 
residence,  for  their  accommodation.  After  this  was 
unfortunately  destroyed  by  fire,  another  cabin,  now 
standing,  was  reared  in  closer  proximity  to  his 
dwelling.  As  glass  was  costly  and  difficult  to  obtain, 
YiQ-ht  was  admitted  to  the  cabin,  in  the  winter  season, 
as  we  are  informed,  through  small  windows  covered 
with  greased  paper.  The  benches  were  made  of 
slabs,  and  were  rough  in  appearance  and  not  condu- 
cive of  comfort.  Some  of  the  students  boarded  at 
Elder  John  McDowell's ;  others  at  Mr.  McMillan's. 
Perhaps  other  families  at  Chartiers  accommodated 
students  with  board  and  lodging.  Mr.  McMillan 
received  no  pecuniary  compensation  from  his  pupils. 
He  was  ably  assisted  for  a  while  by  Mr.  James  Ross, 
of  Pittsburgh,  who  afterwards  became  a  distinguished 
lawyer  and  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 
His  Latin  school  continued,  with  perhaps  some  inter- 
mission, about  eleven  years,  until  the  academy  at 
Canonsburg  was  founded,  in  1791,  when  he  trans- 
ferred his  students  to  it.  The  academy  flourished 
and  developed  into  Jefferson  college,  which  was 
chartered  in  1802. 

The  claim  made  for  Mr.  McMillan's  school  at 
Chartiers  that  it  was  the  first  Latin  school  started 
west  of  the  mountains,  is  by  some  disputed.  At 
that  early  period  there  were  two  other  schools  in 
Washington  county,  the  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd's,  at 
Ten  Mile,  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Smith's  at  Buffalo. 
It  is  asserted  by  their  respective  friends  that  both  of 
these  preceded  Mr.  McMillan's.  Mr.  Dodd's  school 
at  Ten  Mile  was  classical,  and  was  opened  in  1782  ; 


13 

Mr.  Smith's  at  Buffalo  was  theological,  and  was  begun 
about  1 785.  Neither  of  these  schools  continued  more 
than  three  years.  It  appears  that  some  students 
went  from  Mr.  McMillan's  school  to  Mr.  Dodd's 
and  Mr.  Smith's  ;  and  that  some  came  from  theirs, 
to  Mr.  McMillan's.  This  interchange  has  caused 
confusion  as  to  the  character  of  the  schools  and  the 
time  when  each  was  commenced  and  closed.  In  the 
year  1857,  Professor  Robert  Patterson,  now  one  of 
the  editors  of  the  Presbyterian  Banner,  discussed, 
with  masterly  ability,  the  question  of  the  precedence 
of  the  schools,  and  showed  very  conclusively  that  the 
author  of  "  Old  Redstone  "  was  mistaken  when  he 
said  that  although  Mr.  McMillan's  school  was 
started  before  Mr.  Dodd's  or  Mr.  Smith's,  and  sur- 
vived theirs,  yet  it  was  at  first  only  an  English  and 
afterwards  a  classical  school.  Professor  Patterson 
proves  that  Mr.  McMillan's  Log  Cabin  school  was 
begun,  continued,  and  ended  as  a  classical  and 
theological  school. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  McMillan,  Dodd,  and  Smith 
were  not  rivals  nor  antagonists ;  they  cooperated 
harmoniously  in  the  cause  of  education  and  religion. 
We  find  them  associated  together  as  trustees  of  the 
academy  at  Washington,  which  was  chartered 
September  24th,  1 787,  and  granted  a  donation  of  five 
thousand  acres  of  land.  The  academy  went  into 
operation  in  April,  1789,  in  the  upper  rooms  of  the 
court  house.  Mr.  Dodd  served  as  principal  for  a 
year,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  David 
Johnston,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  court  house  was  burned,  and  Mr. 
Johnston    was   left   without   a   place   for   his   pupils. 


14 

Rev.  John  McMillan  and  Rev.  Matthew  Henderson, 
trustees,  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  secure  a 
lot  in  Washington,  on  which  to  erect  a  building. 
Tliey  then  went  to  Canonsburg  and  appealed  to  Col. 
Canon,  who  o-ave  them  a  lot  and  built  a  laro-e  stone 
house  for  the  use  of  the  academy.  Mr.  Johnston 
became  the  principal,  and  the  academy  of  Washing- 
ton was  suspended.  We  suppose  that  this  suspension 
would  not  have  occurred,  if  the  early  inhabitants  of 
Washington  had  possessed  such  zeal  in  the  cause  of 
education  as  its  citizens,  of  late  years,  have  mani- 
fested. The  conorreoation  of  Chartiers,  at  a 
meeting  held  in  July,  1791,  approved  of  the  selection 
of  Canonsburg.  On  the  day  after  Col.  Canon 
donated  the  lot,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  McMillan,  Hender- 
son and  Smith,  Judges  McDowell  and  Allison,  Craig 
Ritchie,  Esq.,  and  other  citizens,  met  to  inaugurate 
the  academy.  They  gathered  under  the  shade  of 
some  sassafras  bushes  near  Canon's  mill.  Rev.  John 
McMillan  spoke  of  the  great  importance  of  the  move- 
riient.  At  his  request.  Rev.  Matthew  Henderson 
offered  prayer.  Two  students,  Robert  Patterson 
and  William  Riddle,  recited  a  lesson  in  Latin  to  Mr. 
Johnston.  The  exercises  were  closed  with  prayer 
by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  of  Buffalo.  Mr.  McMillan 
never  lost  his  interest  in  the  academy  and  the  college 
at  Canonsburg.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  academy, 
and  vice-Principal  and  professor  of  Divinity  of 
Jefferson  college. 

We  regret  that  we  have  not  a  complete  list  of 
the  students  who  attended  the  Los^  Cabin  school. 
It  is  supposed  that  the  total  number  was  not  less  than 
one    hundred.     James    Hughs,    John    Brice,   James 


15 

McGready,  William  Swan,  Samuel  Porter,  and 
Thomas  Marquis,  were  among  those  who  became 
useful  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

Dr.  McMillan  was  not  more  distinguished  as  an 
instructor  than  as  a  preacher  and  pastor.  He  ex- 
plained the  Scriptures  with  great  clearness,  ability, 
and  skill.  The  inspiring  theme  of  his  discourse  was 
"Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified."  He  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  preach  the  terrors  of  the  law,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  he  proclaimed  the  sweet  promises  and  encourag- 
ing invitations  of  the  gospel.  Death  and  the  judg- 
ment, heaven  and  hell  were  realities  to  him,  and  he 
urged  men  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  He 
alarmed  the  careless,  encouraged  the  timid,  consoled 
the  afflicted,  instructed  the  ignorant,  confuted  the 
skeptical,  and  reproved  the  proud  and  presumptu- 
ous, the  hypocritical  and  contentious,  the  wicked  and 
worldly-minded. 

Sometimes  his  manner  was  austere.  He 
ridiculed  the  man  who  first  appeared  at  church 
carrying  an  umbrella,  and  the  family  who  first  rode 
to  church  in  a  carriage.  As  two  young  women  arose 
to  leave  during  service,  he  cried  out,  "sit  down,  girls, 
sit  clown,  for  we  have  all  seen  your  high  combs." 
Meeting  a  man  who  had  just  recovered  from  an  attack 
of  sickness,  he  said,  "  It  is  better  that  you  are  here 
than  in  hell."  For  his  harsh  expressions,  we  offer 
no  apology.     They  were  the  faults  of  a  good  man. 

Dr.  McMillan's  costume  would  not  accord  with 
present  fashions.  He  wore  buck-skin  knee-breeches, 
blue  stockings  and  buckled  shoes,  a  coat  and  a  vest 
of  a  peculiar  style,  and  a  hat  with  a  broad  brim. 


16 

He  preached  with  marked  effect  upon  sacra- 
mental occasions  and  at  camp  meetings.  With  his 
powerful  voice  he  could  be  distinctly  heard  by  a 
great  multitude.  He  expressed  regret  before  his 
death  that  he  could  not  leave  his  lungs  as  a  legacy 
to  some  weak-voiced  minister,  for  he  thought  they 
were  strong  enough  to  last  for  another  generation. 

For  many  years  his  salary  did  not  amount  to 
more  than  one  hundred  pounds,  in  Pennsylvania 
currency,  a  sum  equivalent  to  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  dollars.  Some  paid  their  subscriptions  in  cash  ; 
others  in  merchandise.  In  a  small  paper  book,  in  the 
writer's  possession,  dated  1782,  Mr.  McMillan  gives 
one  person  credit  for  six  pounds  and  a-half  of  tallow; 
another  receives  credit  for  a  quire  of  paper  valued 
at  two  shillings  and  sixpence ;  others  are  credited 
for  corn  and  wheat.  The  salary  seems  meagre  and 
insufficient,  but  we  must  remember  that  provisions 
were  cheap,  the  style  of  living  was  very  plain,  and 
the  pastor  was  the  possessor  of  a  large  farm  which 
he  purchased  when  land  was  worth  but  three  or  four 
dollars  an  acre.  Small  as  was  his  salary.  Dr. 
McMillan  was  able,  by  strict  economy,  to  save  a 
portion  which  he  used  for  charitable  purposes.  His 
earliest  and  most  intimate  friend,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Ralston,  D.  D.,  who  was  for  nearly  half  a  century 
the  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Mingo 
Creek  and  Monongahela  City,  preached,  at  Chartiers, 
Dr.  McMillan's  funeral  sermon,  and  on  that  occasion 
he  said :  "  I  should  not  omit  to  mention  what  may 
not  be  known  to  many  here,  or  to  the  public  at  large, 
but  is  known  to  myself  and  to  some  who  hear  me, 
that  our  lamented  father,  whose  liberality  and  philan- 


17 

trophy  knew  no  bounds  when  the  interests  of 
literature  and  the  church  were  concerned,  for  many 
years  gave  ten  pounds  yearly  out  of  a  salary  of  one 
hundred  pounds,  Pennsylvania  currency,  for  the 
support  of  the  academy  at  Canonsburg."  It  is 
known  also  that  Dr.  McMillan  advanced  money  to 
aid  in  the  erection  of  "Providence  Hall,'.'  a  building 
designed  for  the  use  of  Jefferson  College.  It  was 
begun  in  1830  and  completed  in  about  two  years. 

By  advice  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  in  179 J, 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  which  then  included  in 
its  bounds  all  of  western  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia, 
took  measures  to  raise  a,  fund  for  the  education  of 
poor  and  pious  young  men  for  the  gospel  ministry. 
Of  this  fund.  Dr.  McMillan  was  appointed  treasurer, 
and  he  served  in  that  capacity  about  thirty-five  years. 
He  performed  the  duties  of  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Jefferson  college  for 
ten  years,  from  181  7  to  1827. 

Dr.  McMillan  was  noted  for  his  patriotism  and 
the  great  interest  he  exhibited  in  the  political  affairs 
oi  the  country.  He  stood  firmly  by  the  government 
in  its  efforts  to  suppress  the  Whisky  insurrection, 
which  prevailed  in  this  region  during  the  administra- 
tion of  General  Washington.  To  show  the  extent 
of  his  political  influence,  it  may  be  stated,  that  being 
dissatisfied  with  a  person  nominated  by  his  own 
party  for  Congress,  he  called  a  meeting  and  had 
another  person  nominated,  and  secured  the  election 
of  his  own  candidate. 

Dr.  McMillan  served  the  united  conereeations 
of  Charders  and  Pigeon  Creek  for  a  period  of  nine- 
teen years,  and  afterwards  devoted  his  pastoral 
labors  exclusively  to  Chartiers. 


18 

During  his  ministry  it  was  Dr.  McMillan's  good 
fortune  to  have  around  him  a  noble  band  of  elders, 
men  of  intelligence,  energy,  prudence,  courage  and 
piety.  Such  men  were  John  McDowell,  James 
Allison,  Moses  Coe,  George  Craighead,  James  Foster, 
Samuel  Logan,  Jacob  Bell,  Thomas  Briceland, 
Richard  Johnstone,  John  Phillips,  John  Colmery, 
Samuel  Miller,  Jacob  Howey,  John  Hare,  John  Neil 
and  others  at  Chartiers  ;  and  James  Wherry,  Patrick 
McCullough,  Hugh  Scott,  John  Hawkins,  William 
McCombs,  Patrick  Scott  and  others  at  Pigeon  Creek. 

Many  of  the  women  who  belonged  to  Chartiers, 
and  the  churches  first  organized  in  this  region,  were 
possessed  of  the  highest  virtues,  the  noblest  qualities, 
the  most  admirable  traits  of  character  They 
patiently  and  cheerfully  endured  privations,  hardships 
and  trials,  of  which  we  can  form  but  a  faint  concep- 
tion. They  exhibited  amazing  fortitude  in  the  midst 
of  perils  to  which  they  were  daily  exposed.  Although 
they  and  their  families  were  needy,  they  toiled  for 
others  who  had  no  claim  on  them  but  that  of  charity. 
Prompted  by  love  for  Christ  and  his  kingdom,  and  a 
desire  to  cooperate  with  their  pastors  in  the  cause  of 
ministerial  education,  they  wove  cloth  and  linen  and 
made  garments  for  those  young  men,  in  cabin  schools, 
who  were  preparing  to  preach  the  gospel  and  wage 
a  warfare  under  the  banner  of  the  cross. 

Some  memorable  7'-evivals  occurred  during  Dr. 
McMillan's  pastorate.  Towards  the  close  of  the  last 
and  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  the 
spirit  of  God  was  copiously  poured  out  upon  the 
churches  of  the  west  and  south,  especially  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee,  and  thousands  of  sinners  were 


19 

converted.  The  gracious  effects  of  these  extensive 
revivals  were  experienced  ,by  the  people  under  Dr. 
McMillan's  care.  By  the  power  of  the  spirit,  many 
persons  were  suddenly  seized  with  terrible  convic- 
tions and  were  prostrated  upon  the  ground  or  floor. 
Violent  agitations  of  the  body  ensued,  which  left  the 
subjects  in  an  exhausted  condition.  When  the 
physical  effects  ceased,  a  great  spiritual  change  was 
often  manifested  by  a  new  and  a  better  life. 

An  interesting  account  of  the  beginnings  of 
the  great  work  of  grace  was  given  by  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Stevenson,  a  member  of  the  Jefferson  Class 
of  1807,  who  died  at  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  about  ten 
years  ago.  Mr.  Stevenson  wrote  as  follows :  "  It 
may  almost  be  said  that  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
western  Pennsylvania  was  born  in  a  revival.  In 
1778,  Vance's  fort,  into  which  the  families  adjacent 
had  been  driven  by  the  Indians,  was  the  scene  of  a 
remarkable  work.  There  was  but  one  pious  man  in 
the  fort,  Joseph  Patterson,  a  layman,  an  earnest  and 
devoted  christian,  whose  zeal  had  not  waned  even 
amid  the  storm  and  terror  of  war ;  and  during  the 
long  days  and  nights  of  their  besiegement,  he  talked 
with  his  careless  associates  of  an  enemy  more  to  be 
dreaded  than  the  Indian,  and  a  death  more  terrible 
than  by  the  scalping-knife.  As  they  were  shut  up 
within  very  narrow  limits,  his  voice,  though  directed 
to  one  or  two,  could  easily  be  heard  by  the  whole 
company,  and  thus  his  personal  exhortations  became 
public  addresses.  Deep  seriousness  filled  every 
breast,  and  some  twenty  persons  were  there  led  to 
Christ.  These  were  a  short  time  subsequendy 
formed    into    Cross    Creek   church,   which   built   its 


20 

house  of  worship  near  the  fort,  and  had  as  its  pastor 
for  thirty-three  years  one  of  these  converts,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Marquis. 

"From  I  781  to  1787,  a  more  extensive  work  of 
grace  was  experienced  in  the  churches  of  Cross 
Creek,  Upper  Buffalo,  Chartiers,  Pigeon  Creek, 
Bethel,  Lebanon,  Ten  Mile,  Cross  Roads  and  Mill 
Creek,  during  which  more  than  a  thousand  persons 
were  brought  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  Consid- 
ering the  unsettled  state  of  the  public  mind  at  the 
close  of  the  revolutionary  war,  the  constant  anxiety 
and  watchfulness  against  the  incursions  of  hostile 
Indians,  the  toils  and  hardships  incident  to  new 
settlements,  and  the  scarcity  of  ministers,  this  was  a 
signal  work  of  the  Spirit,  greatly  strengthening  the 
feeble  churches." 

"From  1795  to  1799,  another  series  of  gracious 
visitations  was  enjoyed  by  the  churches  generally 
throughout  western  Pennsylvania,  extending  to  the 
new  settlements  north  of  Pittsburgh.  In  this  work. 
Dr.  McMillan,  the  first  settled  pastor  in  western 
Pennsylvania,  received  into  his  church  one  hundred 
and  ten,  Mr.  Marquis  one  hundred  and  twenty-three, 
and  large  additions  were  made  to  many  others." 

The  Western  Missionary  Magazine  of  the  year 
1803,  after  describing  the  effects  of  the  outpouring 
of  the  Spirit  upon  the  congregations  of  Cross  Creek 
and  Upper  Buffalo,  which  took  place  between  1781 
and  1787,  says:  "Nearly  about  the  same  time  this 
gracious  work  began  in  these  congregations,  the 
Divine  influences  were  also  poured  out  upon  the 
congregations  of  Chartiers  and  Pigeon  Creek,  under 
the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John  McMillan  ;  many  were 


21 

awakened  and  the  pious  much  revived  and  quickened. 
There  v^ere  a  goodly  number  of  judicious  christians 
in  these  congregations  who  actively  stepped  forward, 
in  their  proper  places,  and  were  very  helpful  in 
carrying  on  the  good  work.  As  many  attended  from 
considerable  distances,  with  a  great  thrist  for 
ordinances,  it  was  thought  expedient  to  have  social 
meetings  for  prayer  and  exhortation  on  the  Sabbath 
nights;  they  generally  continued  all  the  night;  many 
attended,  and  conviction  and  conversion  work  went 
graciously  on.  Frequently  the  exercised  could  not 
suppress  their  feelings  of  joy  or  distress,  but  gave 
them  vent  in  eroans  and  cries.  There  were  also 
frequently  week  day  and  night  sermons  and  societies 
in  different  parts  of  the  congregations.  Thus  this 
good  work  went  on  for  several  years ;  and  it  is 
believed  that  many  were  brought  savingly  to  close 
with  Christ  in  these  congregations ;  and  it  is  evident 
from  a  trial  of  nearly  twenty  years,  that  the  work  is 
real  and  genuine  with  respect  to  some  hundreds  in 
these  two  charges  above  stated,  many  of  whom  are 
now  faithful  leaders,  zealous  and  active  christians, 
and  pillars  in  the  Church  of  Christ." 

"In  the  year  1795,  there  was  a  gracious  shower 
of  the  Divine  influence  in  the  congregation  of 
Chartiers,  which  occasioned  a  considerable  reviving 
and  inoratheringr  of  souls.  In  this  visitation  the 
academy  at  Canonsburg  shared  largely.  About 
forty-five  were  added  to  the  church." 

The  same  Magazine  describes  "  The  Falling 
Work"  as  it  was  called,  vol.  I.  p.  336.  "On  Satur- 
day, the  13th  of  November,  1802,  a  greater  concourse 
of  people  than  had  ever  been  seen  at  a  meeting  for 


22 

Divine  worship  in  this  country,  assembled  at  Upper 
Buffalo  meetincr  house,  in  the  conoreofation  of  the 
Rev.  John  Anderson,  and  formed  an  encampment 
in  a  semi-circle  around  the  front  of  the  tent,  in  a 
shady  wood.  Fifteen  ministers  were  present,  all 
members  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  and  with 
cordial  harmony  took  part  in  the  various  labors  of 
the  solemn  season.  The  administration  of  the  word 
and  ordinances  was  accompanied  with  an  extraor- 
dinary effusion  of  Divine  influences  on  the  hearts  of 
the  hearers.  Some  hundreds  were,  during  the 
season,  convinced  of  their  sin  and  misery ;  many  of 
them  sunk  down  and  cried  bitterly  and  incessantly 
for  several  hours.  Some  fell  suddenly ;  some  lost 
their  strength  gradually  ;  some  lay  quiet  and  silent ; 
some  were  violently  agitated ;  and  many  sat  silently 
weeping,  who  were  not  exercised  with  any  bodily 
affections.  Preaching,  exhortations,  prayers  and 
praises  were  continued  alternately  throughout  the 
whole  night  in  the  meeting  house,  which  was  crowded, 
and  also  a  part  of  the  night  at  the  tent. 

"  There  were  some  short  intermissions  when  the 
sound  of  the  cries  and  groans  of  the  distressed  was 
so  great  as  quite  to  drown  a  speaker's  voice  ;  at 
which  times  the  ministers  and  others  reputed  for 
experience  and  wisdom  in  religion,  took  opportunity 
to  converse  with  the  distressed,  to  discover  the  cause 
and  nature  of  their  complaints  and  cries,  which 
pierced  their  ears  and  hearts  from  every  quarter  of 
the  assembly,  and  administered  such  instructions  and 
counsels  as  appeared  to  be  suitable  to  their  various 
cases." 


23 

Many  opposed  the  work  and  called  it  "  an  evil 
work,"  "a  work  of  enthusiasm,"  "a  work  of  delu- 
sion," "a  work  of  the  devil."  The  Rev.  Samuel 
Ralston,  D.  D.,  defended  the  work  and  answered  all 
opposers  in  a  pamphlet,  called  "The  Currycomb," 
pubhshed  in  Washington  in  1805. 

Time  confirmed  the  views  expressed  by  Dr. 
Ralston.  Many  of  the  subjects  of  the  revivals  which 
occurred  In  the  last  quarter  of  the  i8th  century  and 
the  beginning  of  the  present,  became  exemplary 
christians  and  useful  members  of  the  church.  The 
revivals  produced  a  wholesome  moral  effect  upon  the 
people  of  this  region.  The  deep  religious  impres- 
sions made  are  not  yet  effaced ;  they  may  be  traced 
in  many  families  from  the  parents  to  the  children. 

Another  revival  took  place  in  1823,  which 
quickened  the  grace  of  God's  people  and  effected 
an  increase  of  sixty  in  the  membership  of  Chartlers 
church. 

The  Records  of  Chartlers  church,  covering  a 
period  from  1807  to  1825,  came  into  the  writer's 
hands  a  few  years  ago.  They  are  peculiar  in  several 
respects.  They  were  written  by  Dr.  McMillan,  in  a 
very  fine  hand,  on  32  pages  of  rough  unglazed 
paper,  of  a  size  smaller  than  "  commercial  note." 
They  are  In  three  separate  parts,  which  have  never 
been  bound  together.  Another  peculiarity  is  that 
they  relate  exclusively  to  cases  of  discipline.  In- 
dividuals appeared  before  the  Session  to  answer 
charges  of  various  kinds  of  unchristian  conduct. 
There  were  twenty-one  cases,  and  the  record  is  com- 
plete In  each  instance,  exhibiting  the  charge,  the 
testimony,   the   verdict   and   the   sentence.     A   civil 


24 

magistrate  was  severely  censured  for  marrying  a 
couple  in  jest.  A  post  master,  who  had  been  accused 
of  breaking  the  Sabbath  by  opening  and  distributing 
the  mail,  and  was  dismissed  from  the  church  at 
Washington,  made  application  for  admission  to  Char- 
tiers,  and  was  received  and  restored  to  his  church 
privileges.  The  decision  in  his  case,  written  by  Dr. 
McMillan,  covers  a  page  and  a  half,  and  is  clear  and 
forcible.  It  shows  that  the  accused  was  a  conscien- 
tious man  ;  that  he  had  protested  against  the  re- 
quirements of  the  Post  Office  Department,  and  had 
tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  not  accepted. 
The  minutes  do  not  record  the  action  of  Session  in 
admitting  persons  to  the  church,  either  on  examination 
or  certificate,  during  a  period  of  eighteen  years. 
In  one  case,  a  question  of  veracity  is  raised  as  to  the 
price  of  boarding ;  the  proprietor  claiming  75  cents 
per  week,  and  the  boarder  declaring  that  50  cents  per 
week  was  all  that  he  agreed  to  pay.  At  that  rate  a 
minister  or  layman,  could  live  on  a  small  income, 
provided  he  occupied  the  boarder's  place. 

In  the  year  1822,  Dr.  Matthew  Brown,  the 
eminent  instructor  and  divine,  whose  praise  is  in  all 
the  churches,  removed  from  Washington,  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  Canonsburg,  being  called  to  the  Presidency  of 
Jefferson  College.  Dr.  Brown  preached  each  vSabbath 
at  Chartiers,  in  conjunction  with  Dr.  McMillan,  for 
a  period  of  eight  years,  or  until  the  College  church 
was  organized  in  1830,  when  Dr.  Brown  became  its 
pastor.  In  his  historical  sketch  of  the  Jefferson 
Class  of  1828,  the  Rev.  Loyal  Young,  D.D.,  said: 
"  Our  usual  place  of  worship  was  old  Chartiers 
church.     Dr.  McMillan  was  still  vigorous,  but  aged. 


25 

His  voice  when  he  became  animated  was  stentorian. 
In  the  days  of  summer,  Dr.  McMillan  preached  the 
sermon  in  the  morning,  and  Dr.  Brown  in  the  after- 
noon. Our  religious  exercises  were  solemn  ;  and  at 
the  prayer  meetings,  on  Wednesday  evening,  in 
Franklin  hall,  Dr.  Brown  exhibited  a  warmth  and 
an  unction  in  his  address  that  often  melted  the 
listeners  to  tears."  The  Rev.  William  B.  Sprague, 
D.  D.,  in  his  "  Sketches  of  American  College  Presi- 
dents," says  :  "  Dr.  Brown  was  tall  and  slender,  had 
a  thin  and  narrow  face,  with  a  blue  eye  and  more 
than  commonly  animated  expression.  His  move- 
ments were  rapid  and  careless ;  his  temperament 
excessively  nervous  ;  and  his  mind  of  a  high  order 
and  especially  adapted  to  abstract  philosophical 
inquiries.  His  heart  was  generous  and  open  ;  he  had 
great  moral  courage,  and  withal,  great  benevolence. 
He  had  fine  powers  of  conversation,  anci  was  full  of 
anecdote,  thoug-h  he  had  also  his  morbid  turns  when 
he  was  disinclined  to  all  social  intercourse.  He  was 
a  very  animated  and  effective  preacher." 

In  1830,  the  same  year  in  which  Dr.  Matthew 
Brown  ceased  his  labors  at  Chartiers  and  took  charge 
of  the  church  org-anized  in  Canonsburg,  Dr.  McMillan, 
then  an  old  man,  resigned  his  pastorate,  but  he  did 
not  cease  to  preach  the  gospel.  Being  strongly 
urged,  he  accepted  invitations  to  visit  the  churches 
in  this  region.  In  his  80th  year,  Dr.  McMillan 
administered  the  Lord's  Supper  fourteen  times  and 
preached  fifty  times,  leaning  on  his  crutch  on  some 
occasions.  In  the  last  year  of  his  life,  he  assisted  in 
administering  the  Lord's  Supper  seventeen  times 
and  preached  about  seventy-five  times.     Before  he 


26 

was  called  to  restj  his  successor  was  installed  at 
Chartiers,  and  some  changes  and  improvements  were 
made  in  the  old  house  of  worship.  The  building  was 
enlarged  and  a  new  pulpit  constructed.  Dr.  McMillan 
did  not  like  to  see  the  old  pulpit  set  aside,  and  he  was 
unwilling  to  enter  the  new,  and,  in  his  last  days,  when 
he  addressed  his  people,  he  stood  on  the  platform  in 
front  of  the  pulpit.  The  old  pulpit  was  endeared  to 
him  by  many  associations. 

Dr.  McMillan's  useful,  laborious  and  eventful 
life  ended  on  the  i6th  of  November,  1833.  Of  him, 
as  of  Moses,  it  could  be  said,  "  His  eye  was  not  dim, 
nor  his  natural  force  abated."  The  church  mourned 
his  departure,  for  a  great  man  had  fallen  in  Israel. 
"  He,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh."  His  influence 
survives ;  his  memory  is  imperishable.  He  was 
buried  at  Chartiers,  where  the  remains  of  his  father, 
wife  and  two  sons-in-law  were  interred.  His  sons- 
in-law,  the  Rev.  John  Watson,  first  president  of 
Jefferson  College,  and  Rev.  William  Moorehead 
were  married  by  Dr.  McMillan  on  the  same  day ;  a 
short  time  afterwards,  they  took  sick  on  the  same 
day,  died  on  the  same  day,  and  were  buried  in  the 
same  grave.  They  died  on  the  30th  of  November, 
1802  ;  his  father  on  the  2d  of  July,  1792  ;  his  wife 
on  the  24th  of  November,  1819. 

The  editor  of  a  Presbyterian  paper,  when 
announcing  the  death  of  Dr.  McMillan,  said :  "  It 
may  not  be  unworthy  of  remark  that  this  venerable 
divine,  at  the  late  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Pitts- 
burgh, when  desired  to  say  where  he  would  think 
their  next  meeting  ou^ht  to  be  held,  refused  to 
express  his  views,  as  he  said  he  would  be  home  before 


27 

that  time,  and  was  not  interested  in  the  place  of 
meeting.  He  appeared  to  feel  such  a  change  in 
his  system  as  premonished  him  of  the  approaching 
change  of  his  state." 


Rev.  LEMUEL  F.  LEAKE, 


SECOND  PASTOR. 


About  two  years  before  the  death  of  Dr. 
McMillan,  the  Rev.  Lemuel  F.  Leake  was  installed 
as  the  second  pastor  of  Chartiers.  This  took  place 
on  the  1 2th  of  October,  1831.  He  swerved  the 
congregation  twelve  years.  He  resigned  in  April, 
1.843,  ^'"'d  became  president  of  Franklin  College  at 
New  Athens,  Ohio.  Mr.  Leake  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  born  at  Chester,  in  Morris  county,  in  1790. 
He  was  educated  at  Princeton  Colleee  and  Theo- 
logical  Seminary.  For  a  few  years  he  was  pastor  of 
Oxford  and  Harmony  churches  in  New  Jersey,  in 
the  Presbytery  of  Newton.  Resigning  his  charge, 
he  engaged,  for  a  while,  in  missionary  labors.  In 
1 83 1,  he  made  an  extensive  tour  through  Virginia, 
as  McMillan  had  done,  and  preached  the  gospel,  and 
came  to  Chartiers  where  he  was  induced  to  settle. 
He  was  prospered  in  his  ministry.  In  the  first  year, 
twenty-two  persons  united  with  the  church  on 
profession,  and  seventeen  in  the  second  year.  These 
were  seasons  of  special  religious  interest  which  Dr. 
McMillan  witnessed  before  he  was  called  away. 
Soon  after  Mr.  Leake  came  to  Chartiers  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Catharine  Ritchie,  of  Canonsburg. 
She   was   his    second  wife.     In   the   year    1835,   ^^ 


28 

established  a  class  of  catechumens  at  Chartiers,  and 
the  Session  adopted  a  rule  that,  in  ordinary  cases, 
young  persons  should  not  be  received  into  the 
communion  of  the  church,  unless  they  had  been,  for 
a  time,  members  of  that  class. 

During  Mr,  Leake's  pastorate,  a  new  church 
was  built,  at  a  cost  of  ^2500.  It  was  finished  in  the 
summer  of  1841  ;  and  having  been  repaired  and 
improved  from  time  to  time,  it  remains  to  this  day. 
The  first  house  of  worship  erected  by  Chartiers 
congregation  was  made  of  logs,  and  it  was  probably 
built  in  the  year  1778.  The  people  who  worshiped 
in  it  knew  nothing  of  the  comfort  afforded  by  a  stove 
or  furnace  on  a  cold  winter  day,  and,  indeed,  when 
stoves  could  be  had,  some  were  as  much  opposed  to 
their  introduction  as  they  were  to  the  use  of  hymns 
or  organs  in  the  house  of  God.  The  log  church 
lasted  until  about  the  year  1800,  when  a  stone  church 
was  built.  The  stone  used  in  its  construction  was 
taken  from  an  Indian  mound  which  stood  near  by  on 
the  top  of  the  hill.  The  stone  church  was  enlarged 
and  improved  in  1832,  about  the  time  Mr,  Leake 
was  installed,  and  it  stood  until  the  present  brick 
church  was  erected. 

It  was  Mr,  Leake's  misfortune  to  have  thirteen 
cases  of  discipline.  One  is  enough  for  a  life-time. 
Ministers  would  desire  to  be  spared  the  grief  of  any, 
if  it  were  the  Lord's  will. 

In  Mr,  Leake's  time,  we  find  the  first  record  ot 
the  election  of  church  officers.  An  election  of  elders 
was  held  April  2d,  1838,  which  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Thoma,s  Connelly,  Samuel  Logan,  Jr,, 
William  Scott,  George  Gladden  and  John  Johnson, 


29 

Mr.  Scott  declined  the  office;  the  others  were  ordained 
and  installed  in  May.  Another  election  took  place 
in  September,  1841,  at  which  Samuel  Kerr,  Joseph 
Horner  and  Andrew  Allison  were  chosen  elders,  and 
Samuel  Logan,  Jr.,  deacon.  Mr.  Kerr  accepted  and 
in  December  was  ordained  and  installed  ;  the  others 
declined. 

What  was  known  as  "  the  sacred  fund  of  Char- 
tiers  church,"  was  constituted  before  Mr.  Leake 
resigned.  Collectors  were  appointed  to  visit  the 
families  every  quarter  and  solicit  subscriptions  for 
benevolent  objects.  From  the  fund  thus  raised,  the 
Session  made  appropriations  as  they  deemed  proper. 
The  scheme  prevailed  for  a  number  of  years. 

After  Mr.  Leake  left  Chartiers,  he  resided  at 
New  Athens,  Ohio ;  Zelienople,  Butler  county, 
Pennsylvania  ;  Waveland  and  Terre  Haute,  Indiana. 
He  died  on  the  ist  of  December,  1866,  and  was 
buried  at  Terre  Haute.  He  was  a  man  of  peculiar 
temperament.  He  was  noted  for  his  piety,  scholar- 
ship and  decision  of  character.  He  was  well  versed 
in  the  classics  and  in  theology.  At  the  time  of  the 
disruption  in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  1837,  he 
sided  with  the  Old  School  party.  During  the 
rebellion,  he  was  on  the  side  of  the  United  States 
government.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  convictions 
and  positive  opinions.  As  a  minister  and  educator 
he  accomplished  a  good  work. 


30 


Rev.  ALEXANDER  B.  BROWN,  D.D. 


THIRD  PASTOR. 


After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Leake,  in  April, 
1843,  the  pulpit  remained  vacant  two  years.  The 
third  pastor  of  Chartiers  was  the  Rev.  Alexander 
B.  Brown,  D.  D.  He  was  elected  to  a  professorship 
in  Jefferson  College  in  the  year  1841.  For  some 
time  after  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  Centre  church, 
located  about  five  miles  east  of  Canonsburg.  In  the 
spring  of  1845,  ^"'s  became  pastor  of  Chartiers 
congregation,  and  so  continued  until  the  fall  of  1847, 
when  he  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  Jefferson 
College  as  successor  to  Rev.  Robert  J.  Breckinridge, 
D.  D.  "  During  his  short  pastorate,"  says  Dr.  D.  H. 
Riddle,  "  twenty-two  persons  were  admitted  to  the 
communion  of  the  church,  on  profession  of  their  faith; 
and  in  many  hearts  and  households  there,  the  memory 
of  his  preaching  and  usefulness  remains  fragrant  to 
this  day." 

Alexander  B.  Brown  was  the  son  of  Rev. 
Matthew  Brown,  D.  D.,  and  Mary  Blaine.  He  was 
born  in  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  ist  of 
August,  1808.  He  graduated  at  Jefferson  College 
in  1825.  He  received  his  theological  training  at  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary,  Allegheny.  After 
his  licensure,  he  labored  for  a  while  as  a  missionary 
in  the  mountain  regions  of  the  State  of  Virginia.  It 
will  be  remembered  as  a  remarkable  coincidence  that 
his  predecessors  at  Chartiers,  Dr.  McMillan  and  Mr. 
Leake,  preached  in  the  same  region.  He  was 
married  in  December,  1833,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Finley 


31 

Nevin,  whose  brother  was  then  a  professor  in  the 
seminary  at  Allegheny.  Dr.  Brown  was  settled  at 
Niles,  Michigan,  and  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  before  he  was 
elected  professor  at  Canonsburg.  He  was  connected 
with  Jefferson  College  as  professor  and  president 
from  1841  to  1856.  After  years  of  devoted  service 
in  the  cause  of  educadon  and  religion,  his  increasing 
bodily  infirmities  led  him  to  seek  rest  and  retirement 
in  the  country.  But  the  change  of  residence  did  not 
brine  him  that  freedom  from  care  and  labor  which 
he  needed  and  sought.  Living  near  Centre  church, 
where  he  had  formerly  preached  as  stated  supply,  he 
was  induced  to  become  its  pastor,  and  he  continued 
to  hold  this  relationship  for  several  years,  until  he 
had  not  strength  to  preach.  At  his  rural  home,  he 
waited  padendy  until  the  Lord  called  him.  He  died 
peacefully  on  the  8th  of  September,  1863.  His 
funeral  services  were  conducted  by  his  beloved  friend 
and  fellow-laborer,  the  venerable  Dr.  William  Smith. 
He  was  buried  at  Centre,  and  a  grateful  and  appre- 
ciative people  erected  a  handsome  monument  to  his 
memory. 

In  November,  his  successor  at  Centre,  the  writer 
of  this  sketch,  preached  a  thanksgiving  sermon,  in 
which  he  spoke  as  follows  of  Dr.  Brown :  "  Oh, 
what  reason  for  thanksgiving  that  you  were  permitted 
to  enjoy  the  able  ministrations  of  that  eminendy 
gifted  and  godly  man  who  was  but  recently  your 
pastor;  and  to  witness  the  calm  patience  and  christian 
forUtude  with  which  he  endured,  for  many  months, 
distressing  bodily  suffering;  and  to  behold  him,  in 
the  last  hour,  in  the  strength  of  an  invincible  faith, 
meedng  undaunted  the  king  of  terrors,  and  pressing 


32 

onward  in  his  conquering  way  to  his  heavenly  home  ! 
If  for  the  time  we  were  to  foroet  all  else,  this  sweet 
memory  of  a  bright  example,  exhibited  at  the  very  door 
of  the  sanctuary,  teaching  you  how  to  live  and  how 
to  die,  should  fill  your  hearts  with  unutterable  joy." 
His  classmate  in  the  seminary,  Dr.  Aaron  Williams, 
says  that  Dr.  A.  B.  Brown  was  one  of  the  most 
guileless  and  unselfish  men  he  ever  knew.  Dr.  D. 
H.  Riddle  says,  "The  salient  points  of  Dr.  Brown's 
character  were  probably  excellent  judgment,  exqui- 
site taste,  and  extraordinary  modesty  and  delicacy. 
As  a  teacher  of  mental  and  moral  philosophy,  he  was 
accurate  and  instructive,  well-read  and  systematic. 
But  he  was  specially  eminent  in  the  region  of 
aesthetics.  He  was  a  lover  of  the  beautiful,  and  his 
taste  almost  faultless.  It  was  a  treat  to  listen  to  his 
recitations  of  poetry,  especially  of  his  favorite 
Cowper,  and  his  quotations  from  the  grander  portions 
of  inspiration.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  characterized 
by  impressiveness  of  manner  and  pathos  of  spirit. 
A  son  of  consolation,  always  rich,  instructive  and 
orthodox  in  his  pulpit  efforts,  he  rose  occasionally  to 
the  highest  forms  of  eloquence." 


Rev.  ROBERT  M.  ¥/HlTE, 


FOURTH  PASTOR. 


The  fourth  pastor  of  Chartiers  was  the  Rev. 
Robert  M.  White.  His  pastorate  lasted  but  a  short 
time.  He  was  called  in  September,  1848,  about  a 
year  after  Dr.  A.  B.  Brown  resigned  his  pastoral 
charge  at  Chartiers,  and  was  installed  in   October. 


Two   months   later,  on   the    14th   of  December,  he 
died. 

Mr.  White  was  the  second  son  of  the  Rev. 
Robert  White  of  Fagg's  INIanor,  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  on  the  2d  of  March, 
181 5.  It  was  at  Fagg's  Manor,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, that  his  predecessor,  Dr.  McMillan,  was  born. 
Mr.  White  received  his  academical  training  under 
the  direction  of  Rev.  Dr.  McGraw,  at  Nottingham 
academy,  and  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  car- 
rying the  second  honor  of  his  class.  He  completed 
his  theological  course  at  Princeton  in  the  spring  of 

1837- 

He   acquired    knowledge   with  wonderful  ease 

and  rapidity.  When  he  applied  for  admission  to 
Amherst  College,  at  the  age  of  1 7,  he  was  surprised 
to  find  that  he  would  be  obliged  to  stand  an  examin- 
ation on  the  first  three  books  of  Euclid.  Although 
he  had  never  studied  geometry,  he  determined  not 
to  fail  in  his  attempt  to  enter  college.  On  a  Mon- 
day morning,  with  a  text  book  in  his  hand,  he  went 
to  the  country,  and  secluded  himself  in  the  v/oods 
near  the  farm-house  where  he  lodged.  He  returned 
on  Saturday,  and  passed  a  satisfactory  examination, 
having  mastered  three  books  of  geometry  in  five 
days,  without  the  aid  of  a  teacher.  After  a  single 
day's  reading  and  study,  he  could  give  a  complete 
analysis  of  a  book  of  three  or  four  hundred  pages. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  in  which  he  graduated 
at  Princeton  Seminary,  he  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Fairview,  West 
Virginia.  There  he  labored  eleven  years,  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  ministerial  life,  and  he  did  not  labor 


34 

in  vain.  When  he  took  charge  of  the  congregation 
at  Fairview,  there  were  forty  members,  worshiping 
in  a  dilapidated  building.  At  the  close  of  his  pastor- 
ate, there  was  nearly  four  hundred  members,  and 
they  had  a  handsome  new  edifice  in  which  they  held 
their  religious  service.  Mr.  White  was  a  very 
earnest,  instructive,  and  attractive  preacher.  His 
oratory  was  brilliant  and  fervid,  and  he  was  gifted 
with  a  voice  peculiarly  rich  and  pleasing  in  the 
quality  of  its  tones.  His  zeal  in  the  cause  of  Christ 
led  him  to  over- tax  his  physical  strength.  During 
the  summer  months,  it  was  his  custom  to  preach 
three  sermons  on  the  sabbath,  besides  teaching  a 
large  bible  class  of  over  eighty  members.  In  conse- 
quence of  his  arduous  and  unremitting  labors,  his 
eyes  and  throat  became  affected,  and  at  length .  he 
sujffered  from  derangement  of  the  mind.  His  mental 
distress  was  at  times  almost  unendurable.  It  was 
hoped  when  he  resigned  his  charge  at  Fairview  and 
accepted  the  call  to  Chartiers,  that  his  physical  and 
mental  condition  would  be  improved  by  rest  and  the 
change  of  residence,  but  in  this  expectation  he  and 
his  friends  were  doomed  to  disappointment. 

Mr.  White  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  cause 
of  temperance,  and  owing  in  a  large  degree  to  his 
personal  efforts,  the  county  in  which  he  resided  was 
the  first  in  West  Virg^inia  to  vote  against  license. 
He  twice  represented  his  presbytery  in  the  General 
Assembly,  the  last  time  in  1846,  when  he  took  a 
prominent  part  in  a  debate  on  slavery,  in  which  he 
displayed  great  ability  and  tact.  In  June,  1848,  he 
was  elected  professor  extraordinary  of  rhetoric  in 
Jefferson  College. 


35 

It  is  sad  to  think  that  one  possessing  an  intel- 
lect so  bright,  a  tongue  so  eloquent,  a  voice  so 
charming,  energy  so  tireless,  piety  so  ardent,  should 
have  suddenly  become  incapacitated  for  the  work  of 
the  ministry  in  which  he  took  great  delight,  should 
have  had  that  worst  of  all  afflictions,  a  diseased  and 
disordered  brain  !  Mysterious  are  the  dispensations 
of  Providence ! 


Rev.  JOSEPH  R.  WILSON,  D.  D. 


FIFTH    PASTOR. 


Six  months  elapsed  after  the  death  of  Mr, 
White,  before  another  minister  was  settled  at  Char- 
tiers.  The  fifth  pastor  was  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Wilson, 
a  native  of  Steubenville,  Ohio,  a  graduate  of  Jeffer- 
son College  and  of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary. 
In  June,  1849,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  Chartiers  congregation.  In  July,  he  was  elected 
professor  extraordinary  of  rhetoric  in  Jefferson 
College.  He  was  encouraged  during  the  first  year 
of  his  ministry  by  the  addition  of  twenty-five  persons 
to  the  church  on  profession  of  their  faith.  His  pas- 
torate lasted  less  than  two  years.  In  January,  1851, 
the  presbtery  released  him  from  his  charge.  Mr. 
Wilson  afterwards  removed  to  the  south,  and  be- 
came thoroughly  identified  with  the  southern  people, 
in  feelings,  principles,  and  interest.  He  was  pastor 
at  Staunton,  Virginia,  and  Augusta,  Georgia.  He 
was  elected  to  a  professorship  in  Hampden  Sidney 
College,  Virginia.  In  1863,  he  was  chosen  a  director 
of   the    theological    seminary    at    Columbia,    South 


36 

Carolina.  He  is  now  stated  clerk  of  the  Southern 
Presbyterian  church.  He  represented  the  pres- 
bytery of  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  which  met  in  May  last,  in  St.  Louis, 
and  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
foreign  correspondence.  He  has  been  honored  with 
the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  His  present  resi- 
dence is  Wilmington,  North  Carolina. 


Rev.  WILLIAM  EWING, 


SIXTH    PASTOR. 


Following  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Wilson,  there 
occurred  a  vacancy  of  one  year  in  the  pastorate. 
The  sixth  pastor  of  Chartiers  was  the  Rev.  William 
Ewing,  a  native  of  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  a 
graduate  of  Washington  College,  and  of  the  West- 
ern Theological  Seminary,  Allegheny.  After  leaving 
the  seminary  he  went  to  Europe  and  spent  some  time 
in  travel  and  study.  He  was  ordained  and  installed, 
January  14th,  1852,  and  he  ministered  to  the  con- 
gregation more  than  eighteen  years.  J-Ie  preached 
the  gospel  faithfully,  and  walked  before  the  people 
in  an  exemplary  manner,  caring  for  souls  as  a  good 
shepherd  cares  for  his  sheep.  The  Lord  blessed  the 
labors  of  his  servant  and  made  him  successful  in  the 
conversion  of  sinners  and  the  edification  of  the 
church.  During  three  years  of  his  ministry  there 
was  more  than  ordinary  religious  interest  in  the 
congregation.  Twenty-one  united  with  the  church 
on  profession,  in  1858;  sixteen  the  next  year;  and 
twenty-two  the  year  after.     During  his  pastorate,  one 


37 

hundred  and  twenty-nine  persons  were  received  in- 
to Chartiers  church  on  profession  of  their  faith.  By 
the  visible  fruits,  we  can  form  but  an  imperfect  idea 
of  the  good  accomphshed. 

When  Mr.  Ewine  took  charo^e  at  Chartiers  there 
was  but  one  man,  outside  of  the  Session,  who  would 
lead  in  prayer.  The  pastor  deplored  such  a  state  of 
things  and  sought  a  remedy.  At  his  suggestion,  the 
christian  young  men  organized  a  private  praying 
band.  Each  member  was  pledged  to  pray  when 
called  on,  or  lead  the  meeting.  The  most  happy 
results  followed.  In  a  few  months,  the  most  diffi- 
dent of  the  young  men  acquired  confidence  and 
readiness  of  expression,  and  at  length  consented  to 
lead  in  the  public  devotional  meetings. 

The  Session  was  increased  during  Mr.  Ewing's 
ministry.  In  June,  1855,  William  Black  and  Thomas 
Weaver  were  ordained  to  the  eldership.  Alex- 
ander Boland  and  John  Chambers,  who  had  been 
chosen  at  the  same  congregational  meeting,  declined 
the  office.  In  July,  i860,  John  Weaver,  William 
McMillan,  John  Norris,  and  Israel  Haines  were  or- 
dained elders. 

That  he  mioht  not  be  more  favored  than  his 
predecessors,  a  few  cases  of  discipline  fell  to  the  lot 
of  Mr.  Ewino-. 

Towards  the  close  of  Mr.  Ewing's  pastorate,  a 
new  roof  was  put  on  the  church  edifice,  and  the  in- 
terior was  renovated  and  improved. 

The  value  of  a  good  wife  has  been  fully  realized 
by  Mr.  Ewing  in  his  ministerial  experience.  Provi- 
dence gave  to  him,  not  merely  an  agreeable  com- 
panion, but  an  efficient  help-meet,  qualified  in  every 


respect  for  her  responsible  station  in  life,  possessing 
piety,  intelligence,  energy,  prudence,  and  withal  a 
cheerful  disposition. 

Mr.  Ewing;  was  released  from  his  charge  in 
April,  1870.  He  has  since  been  successfully  engaged 
in  the  important  work  of  instruction  as  principal  of 
the  academy  in  Canonsburg,  organized  since  the 
removal  of  Jefferson  College,  to  Washington.  He 
well  merits  the  popularity  he  has  gained  as  an 
educator.  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  professor  extra- 
ordinary of  history  and  modern  languages  in  Jeffer- 
son College  in  1852.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  mention, 
that  several  of  the  pastors  of  Chartiers  have  been 
noted  for  their  zeal  in  the  cause  of  education. 


Rev.  ROBERT  S.  MORTON, 

PASTOR    ELECT.  > 

For  several  months  after  Mr.  Ewing  left  Char- 
tiers,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  different  ministers. 
In  the  winter  of  1870,  a  call  was  given  to  Rev. 
Robert  S.  Morton,  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  College 
of  the  class  of  1845.  The  presbytery  placed  the  call 
in  his  hands.  He  asked  and  obtained  permission  to 
hold  it  for  six  months  before  making  known  his  de- 
cision. At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  declined 
the  call.  He  is  now  the  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Little  Beaver,  and  the  pastor  elect  of  Petersburgh 
church  in  the  Presbytery  of  Mahoning,  Synod  of 
Cleveland.  A  vacancy  of  three  years  followed  the 
withdrawal  of  Mr.  Morton. 


Rev.  MATTHEW  H.  BRADLEY, 

SEVENTH    PASTOR. 

The  seventh  pastor  of  Chartlers  is  the  Rev. 
Matthew  H.  Bradley.  He  was  born  at  Mercersburg, 
Pennsylvania.  He  received  his  academical  and  one 
year  of  his  collegiate  education  at  Mercersburg  Col- 
lege ;  graduated  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  June,  1871,  and  received  his  theological 
instruction  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary, 
Allegheny.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  convened  at  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  same  church  in  which 
Dr.  McMillan  was  licensed.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  at  Chartiers,  on  the  loth  of  June,  1874.  He 
has  the  confidence,  respect,  and  affection  of  the 
people,  and  his  prospects  appear  encouraging. 

On  the  loth  of  July,  1875,  James  McLaughHn 
and  Robert  Munnel  were  ordained  to  the  office  of 
ruling  elder  in  Chartiers  congregation. 

The  number  of  communicants  at  present  be- 
longing to  Charders  church  is  97.  The  number  of 
scholars  in  the  Sabbath  School  is  65.  During  the 
year,  ending  April  ist,  1875,  the  number  added  to 
the  church  on  examination  was  8,  and  on  certificate 
6.  The  church  raised  nearly  $1 400,  of  which  amount 
^134  was  for  benevolent  objects,  and  the  remainder 
for  congregational  and  miscellaneous  purposes. 

Chartiers  church  is  in  a  healthy  and  prosperous 
condition,  and  before  it  is  a  promising  future.  Let 
the  members  continue  sound  in  the  faith  ;  let  them 
be  holy  in  their  walk  and  conversation  ;  let  them  con- 


40 

secrate  themselves  and  their  substance  to  the  service 
of  Christ ;  let  them  cultivate  an  humble,  prayerful, 
loving,  and  peaceable  spirit,  and  in  days  to  come 
they  shall  enjoy  the  presence  and  blessing  of  God, 
and  witness  pentecostal  seasons  of  revival. 

Members  of  Chartiers,  contrast  your  condition 
with  that  of  your  struggling  and  imperiled  ancestors, 
and  see  what  reason  you  have  for  sincere  gratitude. 
They  dwelt  in  cabins ;  they  cut  down  forests  to  pre- 
pare the  soil  for  the  plough  ;  they  fought  with  wild 
beasts  and  savage  men ;  they  felt  the  pinchings  of 
poverty;  they  endured  indescribable  hardships,  priva- 
tions, and  discomforts ;  they  met  to  worship  God 
when  it  was  difficult  and  dangerous  to  assemble ; 
they  laid  the  foundations  on  which  you  have  built ; 
they  planted  trees  of  whose  pleasant  fruits  you  have 
eaten  ;  they  sowed  seeds  that  yielded  the  golden 
harvest  you  have  reaped.  Revere  the  memory  of 
the  pious  dead.  Prize  the  rich  inheritance  they  be- 
queathed to  you.  Guard  well  the  precious  treasure 
committed  to  you,  and  hand  it  down  unimpaired  to 
your  descendants.  Keep  the  lamp  burning  in  the 
sanctuary.  Keep  alive  the  fire  on  the  holy  altar. 
Cherish  an  ardent  love  for  the  house  and  word  of 
God.  Give  encouragement  to  him  who  ministers  in 
sacred  things.  And  prepare  yourselves  to  join  those 
who  have  gone  to  the  realm  of  the  blessed — the  pas- 
tors, the  elders,  the  members  of  this  ancient  church, 
your  own  beloved  friends  and  kindred,  who  are  now 
numbered  with  the  blood-bought,  the  white-robed, 
the  glorified  saints  in  heaven  ! 


Appe7idix. 


The  Presbyterian  Banner,  of  Pittsburgh,  in  its  issue  of 
September  ist,  1875,  published  the  following  account  of  the 
Centennial  Celebration  at  Piareon  Creek  and  Chartiers  Churches. 


M  MILLAN  CENTENNIAL. 

The  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  services  of  Rev. 
John  McMillan,  D.  D.,  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  was  celebrated 
with  the  greatest  enthusiasm  at  Pigeon  Creek  and  Chartiers,  his 
pastoral  charge  in  Washington  County  last  week. 

PIGEON  CREEK. 

The  services  at  this  Church  were  held  on  Tuesday.  The 
attendance  from  the  neighborhood  was  beyond  the  most  sanguine 
expectations,  and  many  from  a  distance,  some  of  them  very  aged, 
who  had  sat  under  the  ministry  of  McMillan,  returned  once  more 
to  the  place  of  their  childhood.  Both  here  and  at  Chartiers  were 
many  of  the  graduates  of  Jefferson  College,  so  closely  identified 
with  the  memory  of  McMillan.  Among  them  was  the  beloved 
and  venerated  Rev.  William  Smith,  I).  D.,  whose  personal 
knowledge  of  Dr.  McMillan  is  greater  than  that  of  any  other  one 
now  living.  The  meeting  was  held  in  the  grove  adjoining  the 
house  of  worship,  under  the  very  trees  where  the  voice  of  the 
"apostle  of  the  West ' '  was  often  heard.  On  one  of  the  trees  back 
of  the  speakers'  platform  was  a  large  portrait  of  McMillan,  and 
on  another  a  good  sized  photograph  of  the  late  Rev.  James 
Sloan,  D.  D. 

THE  ADDRESS. 

An  address  on  the  life  and  character  of  Dr.  McMillan  had 
been  prepared  by  Rev.  D.  X.  Junkin,  D.  D.,  who  knew  him  well, 
who  had  united  with  the  church  under  him,  and  whose  historical 
tastes  and  knowledge  are  so  well  known.     In  conception  and 


42 

style  of  expression  it  was  most  admirable,  giving  a  detailed  and 
striking  history  of  McMillan's  early  days,  his  education,  his 
religious  experience,  his  early  journeys  over  the  mountains  to 
Western  Pennsylvania,  his  manner  of  preaching  and  the  immense 
influence  he  wielded,  together  with  occasional  vivid  glances  at 
the  people  and  customs  of  those  days.  We  can  assure  the  public 
that  a  rich  treat  awaits  it  in  the  address  to  be  delivered  by  Dr. 
Junkin  at  the  convention  to  be  held  in  this  city  sometime  this 
fall.  To  the  great  regret  of  all,  Dr.  Junkin  was  taken  alarmingly 
ill  early  in  the  morning,  so  that  it  was  necessary  for  his  address 
to  be  read  by  Rev.  Boyd  Kerr,  of  Mercer,  who  was  born  within 
the  bounds  of  this  congregation,  and  whose  grandfather  was  its 
second  pastor.  Mr.  Kerr  did  his  part  admirably,  difficult  as  it 
was,  reading  with  great  animation  and  entire  distinctness,  giving 
the  proper  emphasis,  and  entering  fully  into  the  spirit  of  the 
occasion.  For  two  hours  he  held  closely  the  attention  of  the 
vast  multitude. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

After  Mr.  Kerr  had  concluded,  a  very  interesting  history  of 
the  church  was  read  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Marquis,  the  pastor.  Its  iirst 
pastor  was  Dr.  McMillan.  The  date  of  his  installation  is  not 
certainly  known.  His  pastorate  continued  nineteen  years, 
during  all  of  which  time  he  was  also  pastor  of  Chartiers  church. 
Rev.  Boyd  Mercer  was  the  next  pastor,  who  came  here  in  the  year 
1794,  and  remained  four  years.  Then  in  the  year  1799  Rev. 
Andrew  Gwinn  was  called,  and  was  the  pastor  seventeen  years. 
After  him  Rev.  Dr.  Wylie,  who  was  then  President  of  Washington 
College,  served  the  congregation  as  a  stated  supply  for  seven 
years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  P.  Alrich,  who  remained 
one  year  as  a  stated  supply  also.  Dr.  Alrich,  too,  was  connected 
with  Washington  College.  In  the  year  1831  the  Rev.  W.  C. 
Anderson  became  the  pastor,  and  labored  here  for  the  space  of 
five  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  S.  Graham  in  1837, 
who  also  remained  five  years.  For  eighteen  years  Rev.  Dr. 
James  Sloan  labored  in  the  field,  having  come  in  1844.  Four 
years'  service  was  also  given  to  this  church  by  Rev.  S.  M. 
Henderson,  now  the  pastor  of  the  church  at  Wilkinsburg,  who 
took  charge  there  in  the  year  1863.  It  was  during  the  year  1868 
that  the  present  pastor,  J.   S.   Marquis,  was  installed.     During 


43 

his  pastorate  a  new  parsonage  has  been  built,  which  stands  near 
the  church,  at  a  cost  of  $3000,  and  many  other  improvements 
have  been  made.  The  present  church  building  is  the  third  that 
has  been  erected  on  the  ground  where  it:  stands.  The  first  was  a 
round  log  building,  such  as  the  early  settlers  were  accustomed  to 
worship  in,  having  a  clapboard  roof,  and  for  seats  rough  benches, 
and  was  minus  stoves.  The  people  expected  the  minister  to 
warm  them  up  by  his  preaching.  The  next  building  was  mqde 
of  stone  ;  its  floors  consisted  of  planks  which  were  laid  under 
the  seats,  while  the  floor  of  the  aisles  was  the  ground.  The 
present  building  was  finished  in  1829.  It  will  accommodate  seven 
hundred  people.  The  average  congregation  numbered  five 
hundred,  the  membership  being  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

FIRST  EDUCATIONAL  MEETING. 

It  is  insisted  that  the  first  public  meeting  ever  held  in  the 
State  for  the  advancement  of  common  school  education  was  held 
in  this  church.  From  this  meeting  originated  a  county  conven- 
tion, and  thence  resulted  county  institutes,  superintendents  of 
common  schools  and  normal  schools. 

OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

In  the  afternoon  an  interesting  and  instructive  history  of 
the  Sabbath  School  was  given  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Messenger.  The 
Pigeon  Creek  people  take  a  deep  interest  in  Sabbath  school 
Avork.  Impromptu  addresses  were  then  made  by  Rev.  William 
Smith,  D.  D.  and  Rev.  B.  M.  Kerr,  which  recalled  touching 
and  pleasing  memories  of  the  past.  In  the  evening  Rev.  Dr. 
Hays,  of  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  gave  those  who  again 
assembled  at  the  church  a  discourse  well  suited  to  the  occasion. 
In  his  remarks  he  spoke  on  the  importance  of  country  churches 
as  sources  of  supply  for  the  ministry  and  good  physical  strength 
for  spiritual  work.  He  also  called  attention  to  Dr.  McMillan's 
case  for  permanent  results,  as  illustrated  in  his  organization  of 
churches,  schools  and  colleges,  and  closed  with  an  exhortation 
to  reconsecration  to  Christ's  work  for  the  new  century  now 
begun.  The  doctor  was  happy  in  the  selection  of  his  subject, 
and  handled  it  in  his  usual  impressive  style. 


44 


CHARTIERS  CHURCH. 

Wednesday,  like  the  previous  day  was  faultless,  and  the 
result  was  an  attendance  as  large  or  nearly  so,  as  at  Pigeon  Creek. 
This  church  is  situated  on  the  top  of  a  large  hill,  almost  south 
of  Canonsburg,  about  one  mile  distant  from  that  well  known 
town.  From  the  spot  on  which  it  is  located  one  gets  a  far 
extended  view  over  the  surrounding  country,  a  view  which  is 
perfectly  charming.  In  early  times  the  people  living  within  a 
circuit  of  at  least  ten  miles  attended  preaching  at  this  church, 
many  of  them  walking  from  the  farthest  points.  In  after  years 
churches  began  to  make  their  appearance  within  this  circle,  and 
this  old  mother  was  gradually  deprived  of  many  of  her  numerous 
family  of  children.  Still  she  has  managed  to  keep  a  goodly 
number  of  them  at  home,  and  to-day  she  pays  her  minister  a 
salary  equal  to  that  paid  by  the  neighboring  churches. 

DECORATIONS. 

Over  the  principal  gate  opening  into  the  church  yard  was 
an  arch  bearing  in  letters  of  green  the  word  "Welcome."  As 
we  entered  the  church  the  first  thing  which  struck  our  eyes  was 
a  portrait  of  Dr.  McMillan,  hung  over  the  organ,  which  stands 
in  a  recess  in  the  wall  back  of  the  pulpit.  On  the  outside  of 
this  recess  was  a  large  wreath  of  evergreens,  extending  from  the 
floor  almost  to  the  ceiling,  and  vases  filled  with  flowers.  Above 
the  portrait  was  the  word  "Centennial,"  in  large  letters  made 
of  fern  leaves,  and  formed  out  of  the  same  material  were  the 
figures  "  1775  "  placed  upon  the  wall  near  the  organ  on  the  one 
^side,  and  the  figures  "  1S75  "  at  an  equal  distance  from  it  on  the 
other  side.  The  pulpit,  too,  was  entwined  with  evergreens  and 
flowers.  Opposite  the  pulpit,  near  the  ceiling  on  the  wall, 
appeared  this  sentence,  also  in  green  leaved  letters :  "  Hitherto 
hath  the  Lord  helped  us."  Between  the  windows,  each  one  of 
which  had  in  its  possession  a  hanging-basket  nearly  covered  with 
vines,  were  wreaths  of  ferns  out  of  which  peeped  all  kinds  and 
colors  of  flowers.  In  the  centre  of  the  church  was  a  pillar 
formed  of  the  same  material  as  the  wreaths,  etc.,  with  four  long 
strings  of  evergreens  reaching  from  the  top  and  diverging  along 
the  ceiling  toward  the  four  corners  of  the  room. 


45 


THE  SERVICES. 

The  morning  services  began  with  the  singing  of  an  anthem 
by  the  choir.  Praj^er  was  then  offered  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Marquis, 
of  Pigeon  Creek,  and  the  Scriptures  were  read  by  Rev.  J.  I, 
Brownson,  D.  D.  This  was  followed  by  the  "Brown  Brothers" 
singing  the  following  "Centennial  ode,"  written  by  them  for 
the  occasion : 

Oh  !  we  have  come  with  songs  to  greet  you, 
We  have  come  with  smiles  to  meet  you, 
And  we've  come  with  words  to  treat  you, 

On  this  great  Centennial  day. 
To  recall  the  deeds  and  actions. 
To  speak  of  the  transactions, 
And  to  tell  of  the  attractions. 

Of  years  long  passed  away. 

John  McMillan  is  the  hero. 
The  man  we  all  revere  so — 
Yes,  McMillan  is  the  hero 

Whose  works  to-day  we  show. 
How  he  came  across  the  mountains 
To  establish  Christian  fountains, 
And  to  sow  the  seeds  of  learning. 

One  hundred  years  ago. 

Oh,  the  trials  and  the  crosses. 
Oh,  the  troubles  and  the  losses. 
This  Apostle  of  the  West 

Did  here  so  freely  undergo ; 
Telling  all  the  wondrous  story 
Of  Jesus  and  his  gloiy. 
As  he  traveled  o'er  this  country 

One  hundred  years  ago. 

We  are  reaping  now  the  harvest, 
We  are  reaping  now  the  harvest. 
We  are  reaping  now  the  harvest, 

Of  the  seeds  which  he  did  sow. 
Let  us  praise  the  God  of  heaven 
For  the  blessing  he  has  given. 
In  sending  us  McMillan 

One  hundred  years  ago. 

This  was  sung  to  the  tune  of  "The  Old  Granite  State," 
well  known  to  those  who  have  heard  the  Hutchinsons.  The 
133d  Psalm  was  also  sung  by  Mr.  Thomas  Weaver,  a  former 
precentor  of  this  church,  to  a  tune  often  heard  in  that  church  in 
the  days  of  McMillan,  the  name  of  which  Mr.  Weaver  said  was 
"Old  twenty-fourth." 

On  account  of  the  continued  illness  of  Dr.  Junkin,  his 
address  was  again  read  by  Rev.  B.  M.  Kerr,  who  acquitted  him- 
self as  well  as  on  the  previous  day,  which  is  saying  a  great  deal. 


46 


AFTERNOON. 

In  the  afternoon  a  historical  sketch  of  the  church  was  read  by 
Rev.  F.  J.  Collier,  of  Downingtown,  Pennsylvania,  formerly  pas- 
tor of  the  church  of  Centre,  originally  a  part  of  Chartiers.  This 
paper  had  been  prepared  with  much  care,  and  was  exceedingly 
well  written.  It  was  well  delivered  and  was  listened  to  with 
closest  attention. 

THE  CLOSE. 

Mr.  Collier  was  followed  by  Hon.  James  Veech,  of  this  city, 
who  entertained  and  thrilled  the  multitude  with  reminiscences  of 
Dr.  McMillan  and  his  times.  Judge  Veech  is  probably  better 
acquainted  with  the  ecclesiastical  and  civil  history  of  South- 
western Pennsylvania  than  any  other  person  now  living.  After 
singing  the  long  metre  doxology,  the  benediction  was  pronounced 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Smith. 

THE  GRAVE. 

During  the  day  the  grave  of  McMillan,  covered  by  a  plain 
slab  on  which  was  laid  a  large  wreath  of  evergreens  and  flowers, 
was  surrounded  by  men,  women  and  children.  At  one  time  all 
his  descendants  who  were  present  gathered  around  it.  The 
following  is  the  inscription  on  the  tombstone  : 

ERECTED 
In  memory  of 

THE  REV.  JOHN  M'MILLAN,  D.  D. 

An  Able  Divine, 

A  preacher  of  the  first  order, 

His  distinguished  talents, 

His  active  benevolence, 

His  private  virtues, 

His  exalted  piety. 

The  skill  and  ability  which  he  employed 

In  instructing  and  training  young  men 

For  the  Gospel  ministry. 

His  indefatigable  zeal 

In  promoting  his  Master's  cause 

And  the  best  interests  of  his  fellow-men. 

Have  raised  a  monument  to  his  fame 

Far  more  imperishable 

Than  the  stone 

Which  bears  this  inscription. 

He  was  the  leading  founder 

Of  Jefferson  College. 

The  Chartiers  Presbyterian  congregation. 

In  which  he  labored 

For  more  than  half  a  century. 

Owes  its  origin 


47 

To  the  blessing  of  God 

On  his  instrumentality. 

He  died  Nov.  i6,  1833, 

Enjoying  the  unclouded  hope 

Of  a  blissful  eternity, 

In  the  82d  year  of  his  age 

And  the  60th  of  his  ministry. 

ANOTHER  GRAVE. 

Beside  the  graves  of  Dr.  McMillan  and  his  wife  is  the  grave 
of  two  of  his  sons-in-law.  Rev.  John  Watson,  first  President 
of  Jefferson  College,  married  his  second  daughter,  Margaret ; 
and  Rev.  William  Moorehead  married  his  eldest  daughter,  Jane. 
They  were  married  on  the  same  day,  took  sick  on  the  same  day, 
died  the  same  day,  and  were  buried  together  in  this  grave  the 
same  day. 

HOSPITALITY  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

The  people  of  these  churches  well  maintain  the  reputation 
of  their  ancestors  for  generous  hospitality.  On  both  days  the 
most  liberal  provision  was  made  to  feed  the  multitudes,  and 
houses  were  thrown  open  to  all  who  could  tarry  during  the 
night.     No  one  was  neglected. 

May  the  Lord  continue  his  gracious  favor  toward  these 
churches  in  the  centuries  which  are  to  come. 


